Luis Suárez: World Cup Bad Boy Bares His Teeth

Biting opponents, racist comments – all that looked to be behind Luis Suárez, as soccer's bad boy was maturing into a star for his club and country. Then, the old habit that most people leave behind in nursery school cropped up again in front of an audience of millions.

Faced with a smothering and frustrating Italian defense in a must-win World Cup game Tuesday, the Uruguayan superstar responded with his front teeth.

It came at about the 80th minute when Suárez and Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini got tangled up in front of the Italy goal. The apparent chomp happened in an instant, but caught by television cameras, it became a worldwide sensation, and could lead to Suarez being kicked out of the World Cup.

The referee didn't see a bite, and no foul was called despite Chiellini pleading and pulling down his jersey to show a red mark on his left shoulder.

About a minute later, Uruguay scored the winning goal in a 1-0 game that sent Italy home.

Uruguay will continue playing, but FIFA will investigate and may suspend Suárez, who has twice before been disciplined for biting opponents in league games.

Alleged victim Giorgio Chiellini of Italy

Julian Finney / Getty

FIFA officially announced an investigation early Wednesday, saying the Uruguayans had until late the next afternoon to present evidence. A ruling will be announced before Uruguay plays Colombia on Saturday.

Suárez didn't confirm or deny the bite, but said he was angry that Chiellini – one of the best defenders in the world and known for his physical play – had hit him in the eye during the game.

"These are things that happen on the pitch, we were both in the area, he thrust his shoulder into me," Suárez said in Spanish. "These things happen on the pitch, and we don't have to give them so much [importance]."

"I want to say that if he's attacked, as it has begun in this press conference, we'll also defend him, because this is a football World Cup, not of cheap morality," said Tabarez, who said he didn't see a bite.

Suárez was suspended following biting incidents in the Netherlands in 2010 and in England in 2013. He also was suspended for racially abusing an opponent. British tabloids have teasingly called him a vampire, and social media artists have had fun manipulating his photo into images of Dracula and Hannibal Lecter.

And he was responsible for one of the most talked-about moments of the 2010 World Cup, when he purposely used his hand to prevent a Ghana goal near the end of the quarterfinals. Suárez received a red card and was banned for the next game, but Ghana missed the penalty kick and was eliminated.

Uruguay defender and captain Diego Lugano suggested Suárez was a victim of his past.

"You need to show me because I didn't see anything. Did you see it today or did you see what happened in other years?" Lugano said. "The worst of all was Chiellini's attitude ... as sportsmen leaving the field, crying and appealing against a rival."

Relieved About Victory

On the field immediately after the match, Suárez looked relieved to have pulled out the victory in the heat of this tropical coastal city. If Uruguay had lost, it would have been knocked out of the World Cup.

After taking off his jersey, Suárez walked to a corner of the stadium, clapped and flashed his toothy smile as he waved to the thousands of Uruguay fans chanting and cheering his name.

FIFA Vice President Jim Boyle said on British television that Suarez let himself down again.

"There is no doubt Luis Suárez is a fantastic footballer but, once again, his actions have left him open to severe criticism," Boyle, who is also chairman of the FIFA referees' committee, said from his home in Northern Ireland. "FIFA must investigate the incident seriously."

Status Had Been in Doubt

Suárez's status for the World Cup had been in doubt after he had left knee surgery just a month before it started. He missed Uruguay's 3-1 opening loss to Costa Rica, but returned with a flourish to rescue Uruguay with both goals in a 2-1 win over England.

After the victory, he claimed vengeance against some of the British media he accused of treating him badly.

This was supposed to be the World Cup where Suárez repaired his reputation. He tried to rebrand himself as a family man after the birth of his two children, a son and daughter.

Suárez said he regretted his previous biting incidents, recently telling London's Mirror newspaper that he worried what his children will think.

"That thought almost hurts me more than the actual deed. The fact, as well, that I will have to explain one day to my kids that it was me, their father," Suárez said. "That has kept me awake at night many times ... I want to be a father they can be proud of."